Heat waves...

Llandudno RNLI launched yesterday afternoon to save a man, from Penmaenmawr, who was clinging to a girder on the town’s pier when they arrived at around 2.43pm. The crew had only been notified seven minutes earlier and took him inshore. He needed no medical treatment.

An RNLI spokesman said: "He said he had just fancied a swim and was very relieved when we arrived."

In light of the incident, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is urging people to think carefully about how they can enjoy water safely.

Well, not jumping off the end of the town pier might be a start. But as the heat builds up, we can expect more daft things to happen. In the US, heat waves and murders move in step, it seems; and there’s no doubt that the incidence of petty squabbles and arguments increases during the hot weather over here. Part of this has to do with noise and thoughtless people; some who like to sunbathe outside the front door, for instance, and decide that they like to have music - their music, which they simply blast out as loudly as possible from inside the house. With everyone’s windows and doors open, however, this impinges on everyone else. So we probably need to take a leaf out of the Mexican’s book, and become a little more laid back during the heat. More realistically, invest in an iPod to listen to your music, and that way no one’s any the wiser...